Thursday, 31 January 2013

Cherrapunjee, also called Sohra, a town to
the west of this one, is allegedly
the rainiest place on earth. It’s also certainly the wettest desert on earth, a
place where the denuded topsoil retains neither the rain it receives nor lets
much but scrub grass grow. The limestone hills around are riddled with caves
and carved with waterfalls, and my assistant and I took the day off work to go
on a visit. Both of us had been to these places before more than once, but
there’s a fundamentally different experience in going somewhere by motorcycle
than there is by car. A biker will immediately know what I’m talking about. For
others, well, never mind - for today. I’ll educate you some other time on that.

So,
here’s the photo feature of the trip. We’re planning a further and longer trip
in the near future.

The bikes and the riders:

My bike: Royal Enfield Desert Storm

My assistant (and fellow rider)

Your travelogue guide and motorcycle gangster-in-chief

His bike (left and below): Bajaj Avenger

On the road

Mawkdok :

A photo feature specially on a trip to Mawkdok is here. Mawkdok happens to be on the way to Cherrapunjee.

Mawkdok Gorge

We kept running into this particular tourist family in Cherrapunjee too

Nohkalikai Falls:

This is about five kilometres on the other side of Cherrapunjee. Cherrapunjee itself isn't worth the pixels it's photographed on, so I did not bother.

The dogawful steps down to the viewing point

And talking of dogs...

She was extremely friendly. Came and rubbed herself all over me as soon as I dismounted.

And lest we forget: The cock of the walk

Mawsmai Cave:This is about eleven kilometres from Nohkalikai, six kilometres beyond Cherrapunjee in another direction. Limestone carved in interesting patterns by rainwater. In the rainy season the interior drips.

Entrance

Not for claustrophobic or fat people

Note the stalagmites

A natural chimney near the cave exit

Above and below: exit

The way home:

The undulating treeless plateau around Cherrapunjee, where it's always freezing even in bright sunshine

In the rainy season this, too, is a waterfall.

May your tyres always kiss the road with the flame of the passion of the ride.